In vitro effects of gold sodium thiomalate on IL-1, IL-2 production, IL-2 receptor expression and IL-2 responsiveness in thymocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect in vitro of gold sodium thiomalate (GST) on interleukin 1 (IL-1), and interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and IL-2 receptor expression in thymocytes of mice and in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). GST increased the proliferation of thymocytes and PBMC to suboptimal doses of T cell mitogens Con A and PHA. It induced IL-1 production of the accessory adherent cells within thymocytes and PBMC, IL-1 production in the murine macrophage line P388D1 and induced the PHA reactive thymocytes to produce IL-2 and to express IL-2 receptors. The significance of these findings is discussed.